4. Inspect and touch up exterior paint.
"We all think of painting as a means to
spruce up the appearance of one's
home, but it's really a mechanism to
prevent damage to exterior siding,
overhangs, soffits, eaves and gutters,"
says James Carey who, with his brother,
Morris, wrote
."Paint prevents gutters from
rusting and wood from deteriorating. In
dry summer weather, inspect your
home's exterior from top to bottom,
including the trim. Look for paint that has
blistered, bubbled, peeled or cracked.
Scrape, sand and fill holes with high-quality exterior-grade patching compound.
Brush primer on bare spots, and then follow with paint. Feather new paint into old
using a fairly dry brush and lightly flicking the edges of the new paint into the old.
(Painted patches may look less obvious if you first wash the siding; use a garden
hose and a long-handled truck brush with long nylon bristles.)
Carey also suggests aging your patch paint. Here's how: Bring a sample of the
existing finish in the form of a few chips or piece of trim to a paint store and get
paint tinted slightly to match its current shade (paints can lighten over time). An
exterior paint job should last about seven years, Carey says. The lifespan "has
everything to do with your climate and the quality of paint." Use premium-quality
paints ($25-$30 a gallon) by major brands. Good paint has more titanium dioxide,
which extends the life (and increases the price). Carey offers this test for paint
quality: Ask paint-center personnel to shake, then open a can of the product
you're considering. "Stick your thumb and index finger into the paint and gently
rub them together. If it feels like pearls, that's titanium dioxide. If it feels gritty
(from clay, a cheap filler), the quality is not as good." If the salesperson won't let
you test the product, "move on," Carey says.
5. Service and clean the furnace
.
Forced-air furnaces quietly cycle on and off
and are easy to take for granted unless something goes wrong, the Carey
brothers say. But these are complex pieces of equipment and they consume
expensive fuel, so peak efficiency is crucial. And a breakdown can let deadly
carbon monoxide escape. Call the company that installed your furnace to service
it or to recommend a servicer. Or find a licensed heating, ventilation and air-
conditioning specialist in the phone book or by searching online. Servicing
involves cleaning the furnace parts and heat exchanger, lubricating bearings and
testing for leaking gases.